December 28, 2024
Floor 76: Arc Sophia
Making great progress in both the Hollow Area and the floor bosses. Maybe I should go out into the field and try to find some boss info or maybe clear a path to the labyrinth. Or I guess I could go to the labyrinth itself and do some experience grinding.
As I was thinking to myself, I looked up and noticed Strea looking around a bit before walking off in a certain direction.
Strea...? Where is she going?
Whether she noticed me or not, I decided to follow her this time to pay her back from the first time we met. Activating my stealth skill, I stuck to hiding behind objects, walls and blending in with the crowd as I continued to follow her. Eventually we would get to the center of town where a huge water fountain was placed in the center. I hide behind it and keep watching her, wondering if she's got something to hide or was genuinely taking a stroll through the safe zone.
Looks like she still hasn't noticed me... I figured with her being a MHCP, she would've spotted me immediately... seriously where is she going?
I continued to follow her until we entered the shopping district. Strea wouldn't even stop to look at the selection of goods any of the shops were selling. As I thought I was getting closer to figuring her out, she suddenly stopped and started to look around again.
Strea- Hm!
Shit!
I quickly popped behind a stall and stayed quiet as she kept looking around, not even going to poke my head out for a while.
Strea- Hmmmm... must be nothing. Tra la la!
Tra la la Strea? Really? Can you make it any more obvious that I've been made out? But if that's the case, why didn't she confront me? Something's going on and I'm gonna get to the bottom of it. At least she seems like she's in a good mood so it can't be anything too bad right?
I come out of my hiding spot and continue to trail her, catching up to her before she dips into an alleyway, walking further into it until she gets to a few back-alley businesses and looking around once again. There was nowhere for me to hide so I just hung back a few feet away, looking out and noticing that she stopped at a place that looked like an inn.
Strea- Welcome to my humble abode Master!
I fucking knew it.
Strea- No need to hide any longer Master. Come on over here and have some tea with me!
"Heh... alright, alright I'm coming... now be honest, you found me out at the shopping district, didn't you?"
Strea- Actually, I knew you were there the whole time.
I gave her a raised eyebrow as if to challenge her statement, but I shrugged my shoulders as her face lit up.
Strea- Anyway, don't worry about that now. Did you want to join me for tea? Or were you taking a break from your busy schedule just to follow me here?
"Well considering you did it to me when we met, I only figured it was fair to see if you were hiding anything from me."
Strea- Hiding? Why would I hide anything from you Master? I thought you trusted me...
"I do trust you Strea, you're just a mystery that's all. But yes, I would love to have some tea with you."
Might be a good chance to get to know this version of Strea better. Maybe find out more about how she ended up manifesting into the game like Yui did.
With a smile on her face, she grabbed my wrist and gently pulled me into the building and brought me into her room. Looking around, I would see that all she had was a single wide bed, a chest for her belongings and over on a desk was an assortment of different toys and knick knacks that ranged from random items to small dinosaur looking toys.
"Huh... ok then..."
Strea- Hm? What's wrong? Is something up with my room?
"No, it's not that... I was just surprised. The room seems to be very... cutesy? I was expecting some more grown-up decor in the room instead of toys."
Strea- Really? So, you think of me as being more mature, do you?
"Can you blame me? You're the exact same size as me and most of the group and have more intelligence than a prepubescent so... yes?"
Strea- Well, let's not stand on ceremony. Sit down on the bed and I'll get that tea started for us.
I gave her a nod and planted myself on her bed, watching her as she prepped the tea.
I know I'm conducting an investigation into Strea, but what does it say that this is now another woman that I am left alone with in their room? Making me a little nervous to tell the truth.
A few minutes later, my thoughts were interrupted as Strea set the tea down and sat next to me.
Strea- Sorry to keep you waiting. Hope you don't mind me sitting next to you. I mean, even if you did mind it, it's still my room so I can do whatever I want.
She playfully stuck her tongue out at me, causing me to chuckle a bit and reach for my tea.
"I don't mind at all Strea. You can sit wherever you like. I actually wanted to catch up with you."
Strea- Really? You wanted to hang out with me?
"Well yea, I wanted to see how you were getting by now that you're manifested in this game. I know you've joined the Assault Army but apart from that, have you done anything else? Maybe joined a guild? I mean, maybe not the Knights of the Blood Oath or the Holy Dragon Alliance but maybe one of those new guilds that came from the lower floors?"
Strea- Nope. Haven't been a part of any guild in this game yet. Might not even join any to be honest. I like being a lone wolf kinda like how you and Kiyo were for some time.
"Part of me regrets that decision but part of me is happy that we ended up where we are now. Who knows, me and everyone I know probably would've never met if I did things differently."
Strea- Well they have you now and that's all that matters.
"There was something about you that most people might ask about: your level. It's about on par with some of the heaviest hitters and yet nobody knows how you got to that point. What are you going to tell others if they ask about your leveling techniques and all of that?"
Strea's face started to slowly drop as she tried to think of an answer, but clearly not coming up with one.
Strea- I don't have anything set in stone yet but... maybe I could say that I just explored a whole bunch on my own? Or say that I don't really remember?
"Our friends will catch on to those obvious lies eventually, especially Kirito. That guy is sharp... well... unless it comes to picking up hints from Asuna."
Strea would let out a small giggle before nudging my arm with hers.
Strea- I'll figure something out, but if it's ok with you, I would much rather learn more about you. I mean I know a little bit from the time I was locked away, but I want to hear it straight from your mouth.
"Alright then, I guess there's no harm in that. What would you like to know?"
Strea- How come you're so strong when you're so slim? I've been super interested in the answer.
"Slim? I'm not that skinny, am I?"
I look down at myself and examine my own body until Strea starts laughing, holding her stomach and kicking her legs in the air.
Strea- Hahahahaha! No Master, you aren't. I was just teasing.
She let out a few more giggles as I playfully shoved her, smiling a bit on my own.
"Little brat. I don't remember putting that into your programing..."
Strea- Well AI are meant to evolve. Me and Yui are living proof of that. She has her own personality and I have mine.
"True, plus it's not all bad. Makes you look and feel more human to me."
We smile at each other for a bit before we both blush and look away from each other, taking another sip from our cups of tea. A few minutes later, I felt her hand brush against mine. I look over at her as she continues to brush my hand, not looking at me.
Strea- Your hand is so soft and smooth... despite having to go through so much...
She started to slowly scoot herself closer to me, which I didn't stop. She pressed her shoulder up against mine and slowly laid her head on it.
Strea- And you're warm too... despite being in armor...
I would stay silent but open my inventory and change out of my armor, putting my normal clothes on and holding her closer to me.
"Better?"
Strea- Yes... you feel much warmer...
She would look over towards me finally and stare into my eyes, giving a chance to look into her rose red irises as well. We just stayed there for a moment looking at each other until she tried to reach for my cheek. Before she could though, a notification appeared in between us. It was a message from Klien. We both took a moment and started blushing before Strea scooted away from me.
Strea- Sorry, it seems like that's important. I'll go ahead and let you take care of that. I'll clean up.
She quickly got up, grabbed our cups and ran away to the kitchen before I could even get a word out. I let out a sigh and looked at the message Klien had sent me. It wasn't really important, just an updated list of the monsters and item drops that were on this floor, but the damage was already done as he had ruined our moment. I reequipped my armor and made my way over to the kitchen.
"Klien needs my help with something so I'm gonna skedaddle. Do you need any help before I leave?"
Strea- N-no I should be ok thank you Master.
I gave her a silent nod and made my way towards the door, wondering if she was ok after that interaction between us.
Strea- K-Kazzu wait!
I felt a hand suddenly grab mine, halting me from leaving her house. I turned back to look at her only to find her usual smile plastered on her face.
Strea- You better come back to visit me sometime ok? Don't be a stranger.
"I won't Strea. I promise."
I smiled back at her and gave her a pat on the head before getting out of her grip gently and walking out the door.
So much for trying to get more out of her. I had an objective and now I'm turning tail and running away. As brave as she is though, she did seem pretty evasive after Klien interrupted us. Could she...? No... no that's impossible right? I mean, sure, Yui developed feelings for Kirito and Asuna but that was more of a familial bond. There's no way an AI could develop feelings for a human... is there?
Little did I know, Strea was back to cleaning up with a smile on her face. She continued to clean up the area until she stopped and looked at my name in her friends list.
Strea- Such a shame... but... there's always next time right?
She held a hand up to her chest and let out a deep breath, holding her hand against where her heart would be...
Thump-Thump... Thump-Thump... Thump-Thump...